Wildcats Drop Second Game To Warriors In OT

MARQUETTE, Mich. – Two first-period goals did not hold up for the Northern Michigan University hockey team Saturday night at the Berry Events Center against Wayne State University in a non-conference game. The Warriors came back to defeat the Wildcats with a goal less than a minute into the overtime period, 3-2, to take the weekend series. Entering the weekend WSU had never beaten the ‘Cats. The loss drops the ‘Cats to 9-14-1 overall on the season while WSU is 5-15-2.

Matt Butcher and Mark Olver gave the ‘Cats the 2-0 lead during the first period of play. Butcher’s goal, his fourth of the season, came via the power play at 9:52. Olver and Matt Siddall assisted on the goal. Olver added an unassisted goal at 14:22 to give the ‘Cats the two-goal cushion. For Olver it was his eighth goal of the season.

WSU added a power-play goal of its own at 2:03 of the second period to cut the NMU lead to 2-1. Derek Bachynski scored the goal for the Warriors. WSU tied the game at two with a goal by Stavros Paskaris at 11:22 of the third period.

Overtime was set-up by a penalty on Matt Siddall as time expired at the end of the third period. With Siddall in the penalty box, Jeff Caister scored a power-play goal for the win 59 seconds into the extra period. WSU had both shots in overtime.

For the game WSU had a 10-shot advantage at 31-21. The Warriors scored two of its goals on the power play in eight opportunities. NMU was 1-5 with the extra skater.

Mike Devoney picked up both wins for the Warriors on the weekend. Tonight he had 19 saves to pick up his second win of the season. Brian Stewart was between the pipes for the ‘Cats. He ended the game with 28 saves and is now 5-9-1 on the season.

NMU will be back in Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) action next week at Ferris State University (Jan. 18-19).